The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-23
CAMP-MEETIN' JOHN.
Feeble Imitation of Sam Jones Appears and
Edifies the People Of Blackford County.
Special to the Indianapolis journal.

Special to the Indianapolis journal
HARTFORD CITY, Ind, Jan. ga remarkable
religious revival has been in progress for a week
past at tho NJ. E. Church in this city. The
meeting is conducted by Methodist evangelist.
who rejoices in the name of Row. John Nogples
and is attracting equally as much attention as
did the trance religionist, Mrs. Woodwork,
when here three years ago. "Camp-mee.iu,
john" as the evangelist dubs himself, is a
small man, smooth-faced. and apparently about
thirty years of age He takes no text, but talks
in rambling disconnected manner, somewhat
after the Sam Jones fashion. At times he
will raise his voice to the highest pitch, then
drop it to Kissing whisper and then cease talk
ing entirely, and for minutes stand staring his
audience in the face without uttering sound,
and then again suddenly bursting forth in a
storm OF eloquence, interminsled with ridicule
and slang. Last night was the seventh night Of
the meeting, and the audience was the largest
OF the week. The church in which the services
are conducted, although a large and commodions
building, was entirely inadequate for the occa-
sion, and many were turned away unable to OBJ
tain Seats or even standing room. The
evangelist appeared to be in his best mood and
after singing few camp meeting hymns, he adj
vanced to the pulpit and began his evening talk
He wandered from subject to another until
ne came to that he termed the society Chris
tap." "Ob, these society Christians said the
evangelist, these dancing Christians. these
smoking Christians. these progressive euchre
Christians these Sunday Christians and week
day pagans. out to church on Sunday morning,
too pious and sacregious to live What do Won
think OF them. brother9 arsterl Yes,
these dancing Christians, these ball room saints.
What Is dancing, brother? Do you know7 I'll
tell you; its hugging set to music. That's what
it Smuggling set to music The littlest men.
the meanest men in all this world are these peo-
pie who go round peddling other peoples faults
Don't you know that. brother! They put me in
mind of an old bony horse saw down in Massa-
chusetts, standing in pile of stones picking
few spears of grass that happened to be growing
between the rocks. Oh. tell you. brother,
struck bonanza when got religion. was q
ragged, dirty bootblack, cast-off, a wharf
rat but the Lord took me into
his mansion and adopted me as his son. He gave
me bath and then sent for the tailor and gave
me suit of clothes, and when went down the
street. brother, my companions didn't know me-
NO, praise the Lord I'd been adopted and they
didn't know me. There's not happier man to-
day. anywhere in this old world, brother, than
Camp meeting john Look; look there do You
see that ng-faced, pious-looking man coming
mp the streets He's a Sunday-school snperin-
tendent Watch him. There! did vou see him
dropinto that restaurants That's a Christian
restaurant, run by church members and
they keep nice little bottles of ale, wine and pop
sitting on the shelf labeled in Greek. Go to
church next Sunday, and the first thing You'll
hear will be that Sunday-school superintendent
praying loud enough to be- heard two squares
for the Lord to blot out the curse of intoxicat.
ing drink That's consistency. That's Chris
ianity. amt it, brother" Here baby, in the
arms OF its mother, near the preacher, began
crying and the evangelist continues Never
mind that baby; it's a great deal better
than any Of you Some Of you are going TO
stop srhr cl;x, clc
You'd better have died when you were
infants. 0 may God help the people TO get
their blind eyes to seeing and sheir deaf ears to
hearing"
When the evangelist closed his talk sinners
were invited to come forward and kneel at the
altar. and large numbers crowded around the anx-
ious seat. many of whom soon declared they were
converted and professed religion. The revival
is attracting widespread attention. and people
come from miles around to near and see Camn
meeting John.